Athletics meet off to a colourful start

Cultural programmes by schoolchildren mark the inaugural session

Players from various districts participating in the Sunflower A.P. State Inter District Athletic Championship in Vijayawada on Tuesday. Photo: V. Raju

Minister for Stamps and Registrations Thota Narasimham on Tuesday asked the youth to pursue sports and games with determination, for success will change their lives for better. He cited the example of ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and the name and fame she achieved after her London Olympics feat.

The Minister, who is also in charge of Krishna district, was in Vijayawada to inaugurate the three-day Andhra Pradesh Junior Athletic Championship for boys and girls. He also relives his days as a State kabaddi player and shared his experiences with the athletes.

New rule

Andhra Pradesh Athletic Association secretary Ranga Rao said that the association introduced a new rule by allowing the athletes representing their academies, hostels and training centres to compete in the individual events.

“Earlier, the athletes from academies, hostels, and other training centres were asked to represent their respective native districts. The role of coaches in the success of the athletes of academies and hostels went unnoticed as the achievements were claimed by the coaches of the district associations. The new rule will be a boost to the coaches of the academies,” said Mr. Rao.

The three-day meet will witness around 1,300 athletes taking part in the under-14, 16, 18, and 20 segments in both boys and girls and the Andhra Pradesh contingent to take part in the national junior athletic championship to be held in Lucknow from October 27 will be picked up on the concluding day.

The inaugural session witnessed the local schoolchildren performing various cultural programmes along with a colourful march-past by the district contingents.

City MLAs Malladi Vishnu and Velampalli Srinivas, MLC Ilapuram Venkaiah, Krishna District Congress Committee president N. Narasimha Rao, Sunflower Group Managing Director M. Punnam Raju, ‘C’ Channel Managing Director Ramesh, Krishna District Athletic Association president Ramesh Jain, secretary A. Raghavendra Rao, senior auditor S. A. Naidu and others took part in the inaugural function.